Control mechanism



M y 1938. c. A. PURDY 12,fi 8:9'44.

CONTROL MECHANISM Original Filed June 22, 1929 m/wm? a4. PURDX.

Arramvzr' Patented May 31, 1938 CONTROL MECHANISM Chester Arthur Purdy,Oak Park, Ill., assignor to ,Western Electric Company, Incorporated, NewYork, N. Y., a corporation of New York Original application June 22,1929, Serial No.

372,818, now Patent No. 1,963,381.

Divided and this application March 13, 1934, Serial No.

Claims.

This invention relates to a control mechanism, and more particularly toa revolution counter and control mechanismv for material windingmachines, and is a division of my copending appli cation entitledCondenser winding machine, Serial No. 372,813, filed June 22, 1929 nowPatent 1,963,381.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive andeflicient mechanism for automatically controlling machine operations.

In accordance with this object, one embodiment of the inventioncontemplates the provision of a revolution counter and control mechanismfor material winding machines, wherein a revolution indicating wheel isdriven in synchronism with the winding arbor through an electromagneticclutch which is automatically actuated to start each operating cycle ofthe machine. Adjustable contacts carried by the indicating wheel controlelectrical circuits for controlling various operations of the machineand for effecting the disengagement of the clutch when the indicatingwheel arrives at a predetermined indication, whereupon the indicatingwheel is automatically returned to its initial or starting position.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of arevolution counter and control mechanism embodying the features of theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 diagrammatically illustrates electrical circuits that may becontrolled by the mechanism.

Referring to the drawing, the revolution counter and control mechanismcomprises a shaft Ill journaled in a housing or frame II and .a battery24 (Fig. 3).

having secured at its upper end a rotatable electromagnet I2 carrying anenergizing coil I3 the terminals of which are connected to leaf springcontacts I5 and I6 secured to an insulator I'I fastened to the undersideof the electromagnet. The leaf spring contacts I5 and IS in turnresiliently engage contactors I8 and I9, respectively, which slidablycontact with rings 2| and 22, respectively, mounted in a stationaryinsulator 23 and through which the energizing coil I3 is connected to anelectrical current supply, such as Journaled within a vertical bore 25of the shaft Ii! is a smaller shaft 26, to a shoulder 2'! of which aniron disk 28 is resiliently secured by means of a spring disk 29.

The disk 28 is adapted to be attracted and rotated by the electromagnetI2 when it is energized. Thus, the electromagnet I2 and the iron disk 28constitute the driving and driven members, respectively, of what isessentially an electromagnetic clutch.

The shaft 26 terminates at its upper end in a square shank carrying asuitably calibrated circular member or indicating wheel 30 on theunderside of which is secured one end of a torsion spring 32 having itsother end secured to a stationary pin 33 projecting from a cover plate34 fastened to the top of the frame II. Through the rotation of theindicating wheel 30, energy is stored in the spring 32 so that when theelectromagnet I2 is deenergized and the iron disk 28 is retractedtherefrom by the spring disk 29., the spring 32 automatically returnsthe indicating wheel to its initial or starting position where a stop 35secured to the underside of the indicating wheel engages a. stop pin 36projecting from the upper side of the cover plate 34. Spacer pins 3iproject slightly above the upper surface of the electromagnet I2 toprevent sticking of the clutch members when the electromagnet isdeenergized.

Carried at the upper end of the shaft 26' is a contacting arm 38 whichis frictionally rotatable about the indicating wheel 30 so as to beadjustable angularly with respect thereto. A clamping nut 39 is providedfor securing the arm 38 to the indicating wheel in any desired position.The arm 38 is bent in under the indicating wheel where it carries acontact 40 adapted to engage with a contact ll mounted in an insulator42 of the cover plate 3 The contacts 40 and II may be arranged tocontrol electrical circuits for automatically controlling machineoperations. For example, when the mechanism is employed in conjunctionwith a condenser winding machine of the type disclosed in the copendingapplication above referred to, the contacts 40 and 4| may be connectedin electrical circuits, one such circuit being illustrated in Fig. 3,for controlling the disengagement of the electromagnetic clutch topermit the indicating wheel to return to its initial position uponarriving at a predetermined indication.

When the mechanism is employed with a winding machine, as mentionedabove, the shaft I0 is driven in synchronism with the winding arborthrough interconnecting reduction gears or in any other suitable manner(not shown). The indicating wheel 30 may be calibrated to indicaterevolutions of the arbor and the contacting arm 38 is adjusted so thatits contact 40 engages the contact 4| when the winding arbor hascompleted a predetermined number of revolutions.

While the electromagnet I2 is energized, the indicating wheel 38 isdriven by the shaft l0 through the electromagnetic clutch, as describedabove. An energizing circuit for the electromagnet I2 is shown in Fig.3, and may be traced as follows: from the grounded battery 24 throughconductor 45 the coil |3 of the electromagnet I2, conductor 46, contact41 and grounded contact disk 48. The contact 41 is designed to make asliding contact with the periphery of the disk 48 and the latter iscarried by a one-revolution shaft 49. The periphery of the disk 48 iscompletely insulated except for a small portion thereof, whereby theenergizing circuit of the electromagnet i2 is maintained closed onlywhile the disk 48 is at rest in its normal position, as shown in Fig. 3.Thus, upon rotation of the disk 48 the electromagnet I2 is de-energized,whereupon the torsion spring 32 automatically returns the indi catingwheel to its initial position as described above.

Rotation of the shaft 49 may be controlled by any suitableone-revolution clutch 50 under the control of a solenoid 5|, theenergizing circuit of which may be controlled by the counter contacts 48and 4|. As shown in Fig. 3, the contact 4|, when engaged by the contact40, establishes an energizing circuit for the solenoid 5|, which may betraced as follows: from grounded battery 24, through conductor 53, thecoil of solenoid 5|, conductor 54 and contacts 4| and 4D to ground. Uponbeing energized, the solenoid 5| causes the actuation of theone-revolution clutch 50 to cause the shaft 49 and contact disk 48 tomake one complete revolution and then stop. It is obvious that the shaft49 may be provided with cams, electrical contacts, or other means forinitiating, stopping or otherwise controlling various operations of themachine or for operating various signalling means.

If desired, the indicating Wheel may be provided with several adjustablecontacting arms similar to the arm 38 and such arms may each be providedwith one or more contacts similar to the contact for cooperating withcompanion contacts similar to the contact 4| to selectively controladditional electrical circuits. For example, the arm 38 is shown in thedrawing with a second contact 60 adapted to engage a contact 6| in theinsulator 42. Also, there is shown in Fig. 1, a second arm 63 similar toarm 38 and carrying a contact 64 adapted to engage a contact 65 in theinsulator 42. It is obvious that the additional pairs of contacts Ell-6|and 64-55 may readily be employed for controlling additional electricalcircuits in the manner illustrated and described in connection with thecontacts 40 and 4|.

It will be seen that the counter and control mechanism of the presentinvention is of simple and inexpensive construction and consists of veryfew parts. The electromagnetic clutch provides a practical driving meansfor the indicating wheel and the torsion spring provides a simple meansfor quickly returning the indicating wheel to its initial position. Thesimplicity of the structure including the electromagnetic drive and thetorsion spring provide great flexibility for rendering the mechanismreadily adaptable to a large variety of uses.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to theparticular embodiment thereof herein illustrated'and described, exceptin so far as is defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A control mechanism comprising a movable control member, means formoving said member, said means being capable of assuming two conditions,one in which it is effective for moving said member and the other inwhich it is ineffective for moving said member, an electrical circuitcontrolled by said member, and means including a one-revolution clutchcontrolled by said circuit for controlling said member moving means.

2. A control mechanism comprising a movable control member, meansincluding an electromagnetic clutch for moving said member, anelectrical circuit for holding the elements of said clutch engaged, asecond electrical circuit, a one-revolution clutch controlled by saidsecond circuit, contacts controlled by said one-revolution clutch forcontrolling the first mentioned circuit, and contacts controlled by saidcontrol member for controlling said second circuit.

3. A counting mechanism comprising a movable indicating member,disengageable means for driving said member, and means controlled bysaid member for disengaging said driving means and, after a timeinterval, for again engaging said driving means.

4. A control mechanism comprising a movable control member, meansincluding an electromagnetic clutch for moving said member, anelectrical circuit for holding the elements of said clutch engaged, asecond electrical circuit, contacts under the control of said controlmember for controlling said second circuit, and means controlled by saidsecond circuit for controlling the first mentioned circuit.

5. A counting mechanism comprising a movable indicating member,disengageable means for driving said member, yieldable means fordisengaging said member from said driving means, electromagnetic meansfor engaging said member with said driving means, and means under thecontrol of said member for controlling said electromagnetic means.

CHESTER A. PURDY.

